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2000 Creative Writing Contest Finalists
Last updated August 17, 2005


Grand Prize Winner

AILA Michigan Chapter winner Kaitlin M. Young from St. Anne Elementary School-Warren, MI

Immigration & Me

If it weren't for immigration, the diversity in me
I might be a Who-not on my family tree.
English, Irish, Dutch, American Indian too
: Italian ancestry in the mix, a family tree in bloom.

America welcomed my ancestors-a promise to be free
Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty are symbols dear to me.
Our country's promise, the freedom to worship here
Practice our family customs and belief we hold dear.

The promise of America rings throughout me
The Torch of Freedom helped shape my family tree.
My Grandmas and Grandpas are from here and there
So when Mom married Dad, I came from everywhere.

I eat different foods from across the world
Irish stew, potatoes and pasta that is curled.
Salmon steak, pot roast and Dutch Apple pie
Egg rolls, pizza, a menu diversified.

Soccer, Bocce Ball, and Cricket too.
Without immigration, you might not play the sports you do.
Without immigration what would you hear?
The same old sounds filling your ear.

If it were not for immigration, what would we see?
All the leaves the same on my family tree.
That is why I am so happy for diversity,
Because of Immigration - - I am me!

Finalists Include


AILA Arizona Chapter winner Shayna Walton from Marshall Elementary School-Tucson, AZ

Why I'm Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants

Hooray Hooray for the U.S.A.
Life is good the American way.

Immigrants come from far and near
To have a much better life right here.

They come in hopes of a freer life.
Sometimes they come to leave their strife.

What a better place we have become
because of all that immigrants have done.

They've shared their different ways they cook
and written many stories in a book.

The unique styles that they wear-
now you see them everywhere.

They've brought us lots of delicious foods
which certainly has improved our moods!

They've created dances, songs and art
Which has caused happiness in my heart.

All the immigrants' different languages are so neat
To learn them all would be quite a feat!

In this country you can have your say
You can give your opinion and talk all day!

We are all immigrants in our own way-
I'm so glad that we're all here to stay!

AILA Washington Chapter winner John Klaassen from St. Michael School-Olympia, WA

Why I Am Glad That America is a Nation of Immigrants

ICELAND
MADAGASCAR
MEXICO
INDIA
GERMANY
RUSSIA
AFGHANISTAN
NEPAL
TAIWAN
SOUTH KOREA

OCEANIA
FINLAND

THAILAND
HAITI
ECUADOR

URUGUAY
NEW ZEALAND
INDONESIA
TURKEY
EGYPT
DENMARK

SPAIN
TANZANIA
ALBANIA
TOGO
ETHIOPIA
SRI LANKA

OMAN
FRANCE

ALGERIA
MONGOLIA
ERITREA
ROMANIA
IRAQ
CANADA
ARGENTINA

ALL
REFUGEES
ENTER LOOKING FOR

FREEDOM,
RESPECT AND
OPEN ARMS INTO OUR
MERRY NATION

ASYLUM
LEGAL RESIDENCE AND
LIBERTY

OFFER
VALUES,
EDUCATION,
RIGHTS,

TRADITIONS,
HONOR AND
EQUAL TREATMENT.

WE
OFFER
REFUGEES
LASTING
DEMOCRACY.

AILA Carolinas Chapter winner Allison Paige Sigmon from Sparta Elementary School-Sparta, NC

Why I Am Glad That America is a Nation of Immigrants

The number of immigrants that have traveled to and settled in our nation has had a very positive influence on our country becoming both a culturally diverse and economically developed place to live. We can attribute much of our country's success to the many contributions made by immigrants in our nation. The skills, clothes, culture, language, and art forms they have brought to our nation has made our country a beautiful place to live. When I think of our country being a nation of immigrants many things come to mind.

I   intelligence, inventions

M   movies, medicine, music, melting pot

M   medical breakthroughs, marketing

I   innovations, instruments(musical)

G   global diversity, gods, government

R   racial equality, restaurants, religion

A   ancestors, agriculture, architecture, artists

N   news, Nobel Peace Prize, nationalities

T   teachers, theatre, trade, technology, transportation

S   space travel, sports, science

All of these words are what I think immigrants have brought to our country to make us a strong and powerful nation.

AILA Connecticut Chapter winner Christa Conway from Highland Park Elementary School-Manchester, CT

Why I'm Glad America is a Nation of Immigrants

What do the people bring when they come to America's shores?
What do the people bring on their boats rowing with oars?
What do the people bring in their trunks, bags, and cases?
What do the people bring?
They bring a world of new faces.

The first sight that they get of land, is like a cavern of gold
They see all brand new faces, all both young and old.
They see the green fresh grass, or see the glittering snow,
What do the immigrants see?
They see a new world to know.

What were the gifts they brought?
They weren't gold, riches and powers!
They brought just simply their culture,
Which now we proclaim as ours.

Music, festivals, stories,
Which we can now enjoy.
Everyone will enjoy it!!
Every girl and every boy!!

So why I'm glad America
Is a nation of immigrants true,
Is something that really matters,
It matters to me and you.
Immigrants are what make America whole,
What makes it pure and unique.
This melting pot of cultures,
Will never spring a leak!!!

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